<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Oglethorpe
Power Corporation's condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 1997 and related
statements of revenues and expenses and cash flows for the period ended
September 30, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK<F1>
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,624,291
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    200,881
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         366,949
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       335,159
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,527,280
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            321,771
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,263,731
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   81,999
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    289,825
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 5,848
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 564,106
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,527,280
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      800,940
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     604,948
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     604,948
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        195,992
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              33,504
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 229,496
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       215,421
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,075
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       41,538
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         196,574
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>$321,771 represents total retained patronage captial.  The registrant is a
membership corporation and has no authorized or outstanding equity securities.
</FN>